Border CaveAbout Border Cave
Border Cave is an archaeological rock shelter in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, notable for a long sequence of human occupation and important Late Pleistocene and Holocene remains.
Excavations have revealed deep deposits that include Middle Stone Age and Later Stone Age layers with stone tools, faunal remains and human skeletal material, contributing to research on early modern human behavior in southern Africa.
Fieldwork at the site began in the 20th century and continued through later decades, producing important chronologies and artefact sequences used by archaeologists and palaeoanthropologists.
The cave sits near South Africa’s border with Eswatini in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
- Archaeological significance: The site has one of the longest and best-preserved archaeological sequences in southern Africa, providing material from Middle Stone Age and Later Stone Age contexts.
- Access: Border Cave is primarily a scientific site; public access is limited and visits are normally arranged through research or heritage authorities.
Best Time to Visit Border Cave
Dry winter months (May-September) are best for access and fieldwork; visits often require prior arrangement with research bodies.
Weather & Climate near Border Cave
Border Cave's climate is classified as Hot Semi-Arid - Hot Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in January) and mild winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 10°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (673 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Very Good | 19° - 30° | 25° | 119 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 1.8 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 13.5h |
| February | Very Good | 20° - 30° | 25° | 102 mm | partly cloudy | 72% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 12.9h |
| March | Excellent | 19° - 29° | 24° | 73 mm | partly cloudy | 71% | 1.7 m/s | 2.0 very high | 12.1h |
| April | Excellent | 16° - 27° | 22° | 43 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 1.4 m/s | 1.4 high | 11.3h |
| May | Ideal | 13° - 25° | 19° | 20 mm | mostly sunny | 63% | 1.6 m/s | 1.0 moderate | 10.6h |
| June | Ideal | 11° - 24° | 17° | 11 mm | mostly sunny | 58% | 1.4 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.3h |
| July | Ideal | 10° - 23° | 17° | 11 mm | mostly sunny | 57% | 1.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 10.5h |
| August | Ideal | 12° - 25° | 18° | 16 mm | mostly sunny | 58% | 1.9 m/s | 1.0 high | 11.0h |
| September | Excellent | 14° - 26° | 20° | 40 mm | some cloud | 59% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 high | 11.8h |
| October | Excellent | 16° - 28° | 22° | 59 mm | partly cloudy | 64% | 2.3 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.6h |
| November | Very Good | 17° - 29° | 23° | 86 mm | overcast | 67% | 2.1 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.3h |
| December | Very Good | 19° - 30° | 24° | 93 mm | overcast | 70% | 2.1 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 13.7h |
How to Get to Border Cave
Border Cave is reached from Pongola (closest town) in KwaZulu-Natal; local roads can be rough and a 4WD is often necessary. Access is generally by arrangement with cultural heritage authorities or research institutions; independent visitation may be restricted to protect the site.
Tips for Visiting Border Cave
- Arrange tours through university or provincial museum contacts - Border Cave is a sensitive archaeological site.
- Respect site protections: excavations and sampling are controlled, and many key artifacts were removed to institutions for study.
- Combine a visit with local cultural centers in the Pongola area to understand regional prehistory context.